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Mrs Parks stared us down as she wrapped up the phone call I suspected was fro at Carson from the corner of my eye He sat with one elbow planted on the ar in his hand like he was bored and had other places to be, like this trip to the principal’s office didn’t even faze him

I scowled as I turned h school and I had never set foot in this office other than to help with so or receive some sort of accolade Until today

I bouncedas Mrs Parks placed the phone back on the receiver, flicking an errant lock of blonde hair from her face “I have to say, Mia, I’m surprised to see you here,” she said

A wave of shame washed over me, and I bit my lip

“Carson” Mrs Parks nodded at hi she hadn’t said the same about him

“Would either of you like to share your side of the story? Mr Gorby already gave me his account”

I glanced at Carson to see if he was eager to snitch, but he had dropped the hand cradling his head and sat there, eyes trained on his lap He , but he wasn’t a tattler, I mused Well, neither was I

I pressedoff the words that wanted to escape Do you see my face? I wanted to yell

“Okay, then” Mrs Parks lounged back in her chair and tapped her pen on the desk as if thinking of the perfect punishment

I began to sweat under her scrutiny Her gaze settled on so behind us, to the corner of the room before it returned back to us and she smiled

My underarms da at us with that excited gleaood

I said a silent prayer for mercy

“Technically, you both assaulted each other That’s pretty serious stuff Nor like this, a suspension would be on the table…”

I felt all the blood drain from my face Suspension?

“But,” she continued, “I ht have an alternative idea, a little peer remediation, so to speak”